Yep -- TPTB have once again granted permission for our HF Forum to have its own Holiday Fun Exchange. Everyone is welcome to participate. If you haven't joined us before, please read the below, and if you have any questions, PM me. If you've participated before, you know the drill (but read the below anyway).

There are just three simple steps to take part in this fun and long-awaited holiday extravaganza:

(1) Send me a PM telling me that you're in and, most importantly, giving me your address (and your email address if you want Kindle or Nook ebooks). Sign-ups start now and will continue through November 1st (or thereabouts) -- which should be plenty of time for all, even the lollygaggers.

(2) Make a "most wanted" list to post in the separate "Most Wanted Lists" thread. On this list should be the WL books that you most want AND that are unlikely to be posted to you within the next two months. You should list between 5 and 10 books to give your Secret Santa a range of choices -- please include title, author, and desired binding (i.e., hard-cover, paperback, or e-book). If you wish, you can provide links to each listed book's page, ISBNs, or links to your WL or a book list that you've created. These books DO NOT need to be historical fiction and DO NOT need to be on your PBS WL. Also, please note on your post if there are any allergies (e.g., pet hair, smoke, etc) that you need your Secret Santa to be aware of.

(3) I will randomly assign you a secret buddy and send you her or his name and address after sign-ups are completed. Look on your buddy's "most wanted" list to find a book (or 2 or 3) to send. Wrap it (them) up and send off the package in time to arrive for Christmas/Chanuka/ Kwanzaa/Winter Solstice* -- a good deadline for Media Mail is December 5th; for First Class, Parcel, or Priority, December 12th. Media Mail will invariably be the least expensive option.

Rules/tips:

Please no requests for a specific secret buddy.

There is a money limit of 15 dollars, not including shipping. You can buy more than one book.

The books can be used or new, but MUST meet PBS posting guidelines.

If you have a problem that will prevent you from being able to send a package to your buddy, please let me know as soon as possible. We all understand that sometimes life gets in the way of our best intentions, and I have a back-up plan in case this happens. No one will be left without a gift.

PM me when you've mailed your package so I can keep track.

Include a little note or card in your package to let your buddy know who you are.

If you want to add a little something extra to the package, send a bookmark. Yes, yes -- I know you all want to send holiday ornaments, stationery, wind-up Santas, stuffed reindeer, chocolate, wine, etc. -- this is neither expected nor required. If you choose to do so, please note that any extras count toward your shopping limit AND render your package ineligible for Media Mail. (If you really want to send chocolate and wine, I will gladly give you my mailing address.)

Even though you are not receiving PBS credits, you may still use PBS Delivery Confirmation with or without PBS printed postage IF you want. See the posting below for how to do this. I recommend Delivery Confirmation (whether through PBS, the Post Office, or PayPal) so that you can track your package. This is the holiday season, after all. Again, please send in a timely fashion so that your package will arrive before the holidays -- but not too early!!

Disclaimer: Because we are not depositing PBS credits, PBS allows us to have this exchange in the HF forum rather than in the Games forum AND only during the holiday season. This is considered an UNMODERATED game -- which means there is no recourse through PBS if one's secret buddy doesn't follow through, books don't meet posting requirements, the package gets lost, blah, blah, blah. In other words, if you participate in this Secret Santa exchange, you are doing so at your own risk. (Of course, we know that the only real risk is to your physical well-being when you trip and fall over books that have toppled off your TBR stacks and crammed book shelves.)

Let the fun and games begin!!!

*For those who celebrate Chanukah, well...given that Chanukah starts Dec. 8th this year, you may just have to extend the celebration past its usual 8 nights -- but really, you're gonna complain if you receive a late present??? I don't think so! Anyway, by Jewish Standard Time, the package will be early no matter when it arrives.

IF you'd like to send your Secret Santa package using PBS Delivery Confirmation (DC), there are two ways to do so. In both cases, you need money in your PBS account. The first method allows you to purchase PBS DC only; the second method allows you to purchase PBS DC with printed postage.

1) Custom Delivery Confirmation Label: Go to "My Account" and click on "Custom DC." Click on "Create a New Label." Fill in the name and address of your secret buddy and print the DC label. If you are sending via media mail, this option will cost you 46¢ in addition to postage -- 27¢ is the PBS fee which is deducted immediately and then a 19¢ USPS fee will be collected at the post office. If you are sending via first class, then you will pay only the 27¢ PBS fee.

2) Mail To A Friend Option: Go to the book's page on PBS -- which you can access by searching for the book or by clicking on the book's title on a WL or RL. Click on the "More Options" button and then "Mail to a Friend." Fill in the name and address of your secret buddy. Then you can print the wrapper as usual -- adding PBS DC only, PBS DC with printed postage, or no extra services. IMPORTANT: If you are using PBS postage, check the weight. Sometimes the weights are wrong. AND, if you are sending more than the one book, you will need to change the weight to reflect the additional book(s). The cost of using PBS DC with printed postage is 55¢. If you use printed postage, you can just drop the package in any blue box -- no standing in line at the Post Office. Also, when you use this option, the book goes onto your account and you will need to mark the book received after your buddy lets you know that it was delivered.

If you've signed up (i.e., sent me a PM with your address), please check the list of Secret Santas in the second post on this page for your name. If your name's not there and it should be, send me another PM.

For those who may not have read Carolyn's post on the SS LIST thread, you may want to note that she plans to own a villa in Tuscany and make her own wine. She says there'll be lots of room for guests, so it looks like we should plan a HF Forum trip to Tuscany. If she provides the wine, we can provide the chocolate!

A friendly reminder to lollygaggers or others who want to sign up for the HF Forum Secret Santa exchange that time is running out -- so stop whatever you're doing and PM me NOW with your address (and email address if you want ebooks). The rules are posted in the first post.

Bumpin' up yet again for remaining lollygaggers. I'm expecting that we'll lose power within the next couple days courtesy of Sandy -- so Secret Santa assignments may be delayed. Nevertheless, get those PMs to me with your addresses. Secret Santa is a-comin'..filled with joy and laughter...

And if you haven't posted your most wanted list yet, click here and do it.

If you've already signed up, check for your name on the second post on this page. If it's not there, send me a PM.

If you haven't signed up, what are you waiting for...Halloween?? Well...guess what today is?! Send me a PM now!

However, just to ensure that anyone who lost power or suffered other adverse effects because of Sandy doesn't lose out, I will hold off on sending assignments for a couple days. In the meantime, if you haven't posted your list here, do so.

OK -- Secret Santa assignments just went out. The amazing thing is that the randomizer worked the first time -- generally it takes 2-3 times because someone gets herself/himself...which wouldn't make for a very exciting Secret Santa exchange!

So, all Secret Santas should have received a PM from me within the last 45 minutes with the name of your "giftee." If you didn't, let me know.

If you haven't yet posted your most wanted books in this thread, Hey Santa Baby, please do so before impatient Secret Santas start PMing me with complaints!

Have fun shopping...and mind the money limits!!

Okay...go...

ETA: Wow -- talk about impatient -- Jeanne already started another thread to drive home the point that not all of you have posted your most wanted books. Thanks for the "help," Jeanne!

Ordered my Secret Santa books this evening from my favorite "Abe's Books". Now to hope for quick shipping. Two of them are coming from the U.K. I find I sometimes get books from the U.K. before I get ones mailed domestically.